RUBY TUESDAY RESTAURANT

LUNCH:

Why did I think Ruby Tuesday the song was a Beatles's song? Oops---it's a Rolling Stones song. Had the BOSTON BLUE BURGER w/ fries. Mmm Mmm good fuel for a day full of shopping. BTW there is no recession in San Antonio. Every store I went to today was busy like it was XMAS time.

BANANA

SNACK:

Eating a banana like my primate cousins do---from the bottom to the stem.

HOMEMADE PAN PIZZA

LUNCH:

No lunch hour today so when I got off work @ 3P I was hungry so whipped up a quick homemade Pan Pizza w/ hamburger meat and sauce and black olives topped with cheese. OK, OK I know I need to eat more vegetables. Next time I'll throw some broccoli in there---not!

Blue ever the ham jumped on sofa in time to get captured in the shot. Que cute!

PORK LOIN W/ SAUTEED OKRA & PINEAPPLE UPSIDE DOWN CAKE

SUPPER:

Love me a good pork loin and love me some farm fresh okra.

Last meal anyone?

Maybe! And with the FAIL of the Bacon Apple Pie of yesterday made something I know always is a PASS: Pineapple Upside Down Cake. Usually make it in a square pan but since

pineapple is round decided to try a round pan. It looks good and tastes good too.

LAISSEZ LES BONS TEMPS ROULER

SUPPER:

It's Fat Tuesday! Chicken Gumbo and Red Beans and Rice were obligatory fare tonight. Mmm Mmm Cajuny!

Ok---so I had heard about this wonderful pie and had to make it and see if it was really that good. This Bacon Apple pie was indeed a pretty sight but really am I ready for a coronary? It was OK but maybe bacon does not make everything better?

NATIONAL PANCAKE DAY

LUNCH:

Since I can't be here I made pancakes for myself today. Mmm Mmm even used sugar free syrup and healthy butter too!

Once had an argument with co-worker over the correct word for pancake in Spanish. Growing up we always said pan queque but my colleague insisted that was slang. Got out the Oxford Spanish Dictionary and there it was in print: Pancake = pan queque. I win!

Fast fact: Known also as Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras, National Pancake Day dates back several centuries to when the English prepped for fasting during Lent. Strict rules prohibited the eating of all dairy products during Lent, so pancakes were made to use up the supply of eggs, milk, butter and other dairy products…hence the name Pancake Tuesday, or Shrove Tuesday.

PIZZA HUT

LEFTOVERS:

Busted!

SONIC DRIVE-IN

SNACK:

I will always remember their slogan from years gone by: Sonic, Happy Eating!

Got a twitter from a close friend reminding that they still do half price drinks during happy hour. Had to stop. Got an Ocean Water. Mmm Mmm slumdog refreshing!

MARTHA'S MEXICAN CAFE II

BREAKFAST:

Quick, good and inexpensive---you can not go wrong for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Today I had the country sausage and eggs plate. Mmm Mmm with papas and beans and tortillas.

HOOTERS

TEAM OUTING:

Nothing like getting out of your work at home prison and meeting the work gang for a few after work. Went to Hooters on Wurzbach for some Buffalo Chicken Sandwich and Fried pickles and Shiner Bock Beer. Mmm Mmm soon to be relatively famous and drunk Michael.

BILL MILLER'S

TAKE OUT:

Dammit Blue!

ORGANIC SPAGHETTI & GRILLED HOT ITALIAN SAUSAGE WITH RED PEPPER MARINARA SAUCE

SUPPER:

Fresh, fresh, fresh! All ingredients incredibly farm fresh for tonight's meal. So Mmm Mmm fresh and finally got the sausage to grill up just right.

CALDO DE POLLO

Supper:

Allergies are still kicking my butt so made a steaming pot of Caldo de Pollo to help me feel better. Mmm Mmm good comfort food.

CAKE FROM A BOX

DESSERT:

Taking the easy way out! Still good---I guess?

CRISPY FRIED PORK CHOPS AND SAUTEED OKRA

SUPPER:

This is my allergy season so to keep my nose from running I have got to eat with my nose in the air. Ugh! Crispy Fried Pork Chops with Sautéed Farm Fresh Okra gonna help my nose from running? I hope so.

MICHAEL PANCAKE

BREAKFAST:

How much do you think I can get for a pancake with my holy image on EBAY?

AQUA BISTRO

SUPPER:

Remember when I said everything is better with bacon? Found this new restaurant where they had bacon wrapped shrimp on the menu. Mmm Mmm decadent good. I think I'll go back.

JIM'S RESTAURANT

MIDNIGHT SNACK

Biscuits and Gravy with Eggs over easy at Jim's Restaurant.

SAN ANTONIO RODEO

SAUSAGE ON A STICK

Again---so many junk food vendors and so little time!

SAN ANTONIO STOCKSHOW AND RODEO

SHRIMP ON A STICK

So many junk food vendors----so little time! Ignore the allergy eyes as I ate my way to a bellyache at the San Antonio Stock show and Rodeo.

CORPORATE COFFEE (RHYMES WITH STARSUCKS)

DESSERT:

We had gift cards. Had the grande Vanilla Bean Frapaccino.

How come nobody has told me I have an Alien or Aliens or Aliens 3 or Alien: Resurrection head???

BLANCO CAFE

SUPPER:

We used to eat at the original, I'm guessing, Blanco Cafe near downtown on of course, Blanco Road and Elsmere. That place was such a dive that the ambiance immediately gave the ordinary food a lift. Tonight we ate at Blanco Cafe just inside Loop 1604 and Blanco and wowza, the ambiance is completely different. Upscale to say the least that it immediately gave the ordinary food a lift.

Had the Carne Guisada plate and it was Mmm Mmm ordinary good. Tortillas were homemade. I could taste the harina.

CHOCOLATE CHOCOLATE CAKE

DESSERT:

Happy 200th birthday Charles Darwin. Let us all observe a moment of silent evolving.

BRINE PORK CHOPS

SUPPER:

I had to wait 72 hours to eat these chops. Recipe called for 72 hours of brining. Chops soaked in salty water solution with coriander seed; fennel seed; red pepper flakes; bay leaves; onion; garlic, carrots and celery. Mmm Mmm moist and aromatically pleasing to the palate. Served with obligatory papas, this was a worth waiting for meal.

CARL'S JR

TAKE OUT:

Hello? It's time for LOST. Quick trip to Carl's Jr for their Super Star burger with cheese; fried zucchini and soda that I never drink. Hello? I gave up sodas and sweet teas at Thanksgiving time.

Poor Blue sticking his nose in my foto but I always get the Chows junior burgers when I get take out. So he and Bossanova were happy in the end.

MEATLOAF WRAPPED IN BACON WITH SMASHED POTATOES

SUPPER:

Everything is better with bacon. The home photo of me above is of me eating chicken fried bacon at the State Fair of Texas.

Tonight I had Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf with Smashed Potatoes which was Oh So Good Mmm Mmm! The secret to good meatloaf is 2 parts ground beef and one part ground pork and one part ground veal.

Add a slice of Chocolate Chocolate Cake made last night and I had myself a nice little feast. Then the rain and hail came...lights went off...spooky!

COUNTRY CATFISH FILLET WITH MEDLEY OF OKRA, TOMATOES AND CORN

SUPPER:

With the mild winter, the giant Ash Tree in the front yard is already starting to bloom. I am super allergy eyes and bound to the inside of my house for about three weeks sneezing and wheezing until the tree completely blooms. Stoooopid Arizona Ash!

Country Catfish with medley of Okra, Tomatoes and Corn was a quick and easy meal to make as I woke from my drug induced allergy coma. Mmm Mmm sleepy head good.

GOLDEN WOK

DESSERT?

Now for those of you who know me well do know that I don't believe in Fortune Cookies. I rarely eat them or even bother with them but since the Spurs won today I thought I'd give it a try. It said: Go Spurs Go!

GOLDEN WOK

SOUP:

House Special Wonton Soup with plenty of Wontons, shrimp, barbecue pork, chicken and Chinese vegetables in a flavorful chicken broth. Mmm Mmm good as a meal in itself good.

GOLDEN WOK

APPETIZER:

Spiced Ribs at Golden Wok on Wurzbach are always delicious but always super stove hot. I tend to get this and my next dish as my main meal and I so confuse the waiters as they never know when to bring out my dish---as an appetizer or with the meal.

LULU'S CINNAMON ROLL

BREAKFAST:

Talk about serious food. Over 3+ pounds of cinnamon roll or like I like to call it: Diabetes in waiting. Seriously good and Mmm Mmm fantastic from Lulu's Cafe & Bakery from last night.

LULU'S BAKERY & CAFE

SUPPER:

Wait? Was this place associated with the Lulu's that was under a bridge near the jail? Anyway, now it's in an old Denny's across from the Giant Luby's on N Main St downtown. I go there mainly for what you will see me eating for breakfast tomorrow but tonight had the Chicken Fried Steak w/ sides. Mmm Mmm I think I like this Chicken Fried Steak better at Tip Top Cafe than here. Oh well, maybe it was an off night. There was a homeless guy there tonight eating his giant Chicken Fried Steak and talking to imaginary Edgar Allen Poe. All I could think was that man could be me someday?

SPAGHETTI WITH BACON AND EGGS

SUPPER:

---or Spaghetti Carbonara! You can see Bluto's tail in the way background. I always promised to teach the next Chow Chow to respect the table and to disappear until called. Blue has other ideas and will often paw you to remind you that he is there underneath the table and would appreciate a table scrap or two. He's so precious!

TAMALE PIE

SUPPER:

OK I know, a classic Tex Mex dish like this from a bona fide classic New Mexican like me? But I've been a Texan now for 15 years and that's enough to throw a little Tex Mex into the mix. Soon I will make a classic New Mexican dish---soon!

GALVESTON CHICKEN & STEAMED FINGERLING POTATOES

SUPPER:

Dan Quayle got a bad rap. You know he was relying on cue cards when he corrected that kid and told him potato was spelled potatoe.

Galveston chicken also got a bad rap. This spicy South Texas favorite was really invented in Bay Town.

Bad raps aside---Mmm Mmm urban legend good food tonight!

SPICE CAKE

DESSERT:

Because I'm a barbarian at heart I have never known if you eat dessert with a fork or a spoon? I find it easier with a spoon after my hands and fingers of course. Made this from scratch during my lunch hour.

STEAK AND PAPAS

SUPPER:

Keeping it simple after a long day and a long weekend. Rustled up some steak and papas. Always easy and always Mmm Mmm bueno.

MAMA'S RESTAURANT

SUPPER:

A long day after a long weekend stopped by for quick bite at an old standby. Mama's Cafe on Nacogdoches Road always satisfies. Wanted the pork chops but they were out so had the meatloaf with mashed potatoes and roasted apples. Mmm Mmm I don't remember this salsa sauce thingy thing on the meatloaf from before? Oh well, still good and we missed the Super Bowl Crowd.

AMORCITO MEXICAN RESTAURANT

LUNCH

New restaurant in Stone Oak so we had to try it. It was very Tex Mex in my opinion. Had the smothered chimicanga with borracho beans and rice. Mmm Mmm kinda pricey for Mexican food cuz I know how inexpensive this stuff really is---right?